Fox Mustang coil-over strut ID?
05-08-2018, 12:16 PM
#1
Fox Mustang coil-over strut ID? Anyone recognize these? They were installed on my car when I bought the roller. The springs are viking brand obviously, but they are hard as a rock. Basically have no zero suspension travel. I’m looking for an OEM type ride quality. Anyone have a spring suggestion?
I unscrewed the coil over top and slipped a shock out. Both sides are different brands and both are blown. No ID that I can see on them. Anyone know where I can get a replacement shock for this coil over kit?
I unscrewed the coil over top and slipped a shock out. Both sides are different brands and both are blown. No ID that I can see on them. Anyone know where I can get a replacement shock for this coil over kit?
Last edited by Forcefed86; 05-09-2018 at 12:29 PM.
05-08-2018, 10:19 PM
#3
Did a little work and confirmed its a 12" 175lb 2.5" spring. Weighed the car tonight. Nose is 1560lbs. According to the charts for a street ride quality 150-175 is suggested.
Should be good there. Cant imagine 25lbs is gonna make a world of difference.
Found out its an older coil over kit from AJE. They cant tell me what shock is in it and they dont sell replacements. So might be on my own measuring and finding a shock replacement to drop in these.
-thanks!
Should be good there. Cant imagine 25lbs is gonna make a world of difference.
Found out its an older coil over kit from AJE. They cant tell me what shock is in it and they dont sell replacements. So might be on my own measuring and finding a shock replacement to drop in these.
-thanks!
05-08-2018, 11:03 PM
#5
TECH Senior Member
The springs might be OK, but the shocks are seized up. If the springs are the right spec, then something else is rock hard. Blown shocks.
05-09-2018, 07:49 AM
#6
Don’t see how blown shocks would make it stiffer? Im my experience blown shocks allow alot of bounce and travel. Giving a soft but bouncy ride quality. Hoping ot keep the "kit" and just replace the cartridges at this point if possible.
Rear has OEM springs and struts and I can push down on the aft bumper and watch the car bounce all over. It has blown shocks for sure. Ordered some 50/50’s to replace those.
Doing the same on the forward shock tower and it’s stiff as a board. When U jack the nose off the ground theres a good 4”+ of travel as it settles on the spring. So I don’t think anything is “bound”. Really pushing down on it hard I might see a half inch of travel. I mean literally jumping up and down on the thing. Springs are nowhere near fully compressed, so it’s not coil binding. Yanking hard up on it does little to nothing as well.
Drives like is has a 500lb rating spring on it. Must just have some sort of radically valved super dense fluid road race shock in it. I just don’t know the correct dimensions/specs to order a street friendly replacement. (if thats possible). Guess I’ll pull it apart and get to measuring. Was hoping since it was a mustang this sort of thing might be common.
Rear has OEM springs and struts and I can push down on the aft bumper and watch the car bounce all over. It has blown shocks for sure. Ordered some 50/50’s to replace those.
Doing the same on the forward shock tower and it’s stiff as a board. When U jack the nose off the ground theres a good 4”+ of travel as it settles on the spring. So I don’t think anything is “bound”. Really pushing down on it hard I might see a half inch of travel. I mean literally jumping up and down on the thing. Springs are nowhere near fully compressed, so it’s not coil binding. Yanking hard up on it does little to nothing as well.
Drives like is has a 500lb rating spring on it. Must just have some sort of radically valved super dense fluid road race shock in it. I just don’t know the correct dimensions/specs to order a street friendly replacement. (if thats possible). Guess I’ll pull it apart and get to measuring. Was hoping since it was a mustang this sort of thing might be common.
05-09-2018, 10:01 AM
#7
TECH Senior Member
Something might have jammed up in the cylinder of the shocks, or the valving might be nearly closed off.
If the springs are correct, what else could so severely stiffen the suspension?
If the springs are correct, what else could so severely stiffen the suspension?
Last edited by G Atsma; 05-09-2018 at 10:21 AM.
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05-09-2018, 10:06 AM
#8
Could be...? but what are the chances both front struts have jammed valving? I assumed the struts were just some sort of extremely stiff road racing deal to start with? I may have mislead in the first post. I don’t think they are locked up or “broken” they just ride like a super stiff race car. Which is something I don’t want.
I dunno? I thought these were super common kits for mustang swappers. I thought people would have tons of experience with them. When the company can’t even tell you what you have and how to replace it it’s pretty sad. Guessing it’s all outsourced china stuff?
I dunno? I thought these were super common kits for mustang swappers. I thought people would have tons of experience with them. When the company can’t even tell you what you have and how to replace it it’s pretty sad. Guessing it’s all outsourced china stuff?
05-09-2018, 11:11 AM
#10
Little annoyed but happy at the same time. I used Summit racings chat and they contacted AJE and got further than I did. (which is total BS!) At least I have somewhere to start though. Seems really odd if it’s a factory lumina shock that it would be so stiff though. I’ll have to take this thing apart and really look at it. Maybe something is binding.
Jae: I spoke with a representative at AJE, and they do not sell the component individually. However, he told me the cartridges are normally an OEM replacement (many are from early 90s Lumina, but they used different options depending on how old your particular set is). He said to take the cartridge out and it should be stamped with a number. if you can give us that number, we can search for it on our system. If it isn't available through us, the AJE rep said it should be available through a local parts store or dealer
05-09-2018, 12:26 PM
#12
Wish I could. This is a hobby street toy with very little invested and needs to stay that way. Can’t afford to throw new parts at it instead of figuring out why these aren’t working properly.
Once it’s apart if I don’t find anything binding, I have 125lb 12” springs laying around I’ll toss in to try. Figure 28% or so softer spring assuming the Viking 12DP175 isn’t mislabeled. Either way should give me an idea of what needs to happen spring wise.
Once it’s apart if I don’t find anything binding, I have 125lb 12” springs laying around I’ll toss in to try. Figure 28% or so softer spring assuming the Viking 12DP175 isn’t mislabeled. Either way should give me an idea of what needs to happen spring wise.
05-09-2018, 01:18 PM
#13
The overall weight and front/rear balance on the fox body is similar to that of my Volvo. And the strut configuration (motion ratio) is also similar. The stock Volvo front strut spring rates are in the 90-100 lb-in range. "Sport" springs offered by various companies bump that up into the 110-120 range. Both over pillow soft rides. When I upgraded the entire suspension I went with 275 lb-in springs in the front. Taut, well controlled (Koni Sport inserts) -- not even close to what I would call "stiff" -- much better than stock. A 175 lb-in spring in the front of the Stang should be a higher rate than stock - but not even close to what anyone would deem "stiff". I'd be reluctant to go any softer than that. Suspect the problem is with the dampers.
Last edited by Michael Yount; 05-09-2018 at 01:24 PM.
05-09-2018, 01:26 PM
#14
Keep in mind, you could have stuff going on at the REAR that shows up at the front too; certainly before I went changing dampers/springs I'd also want a complete investigation of what's going on with the rear suspension. Because of the spring location at the rear (if stock) MUCH, MUCH higher spring rates at the rear are required.
05-09-2018, 01:52 PM
#15
I was thinking the same initially, but if there is an OEM Chevy Lumina strut cartridge in there... I can’t see that. I’ll know more when it’s apart and update this.
Originally thought the nose of the car would be abnormally light weight with the tubular K-member, lack of accessories, plastic intake, and aluminum block 5.3, etc... so the stiff ride was expected. I guess the twin turbo setup balanced it out as 1560lbs is about “normal” for a fox.
125lb rate seems crazy light to me too, but I have the springs handy to try so thought I’d give it a shot and see how it feels. I also run maxed positive caster to help keep the car track straight at speed. That also has an impact on spring rating maxing a lighter spring act more rigid. Though the plates don’t’ allow what I’d call excessive adjustment.
Funny you mention the rear as it’s 100% untouched OEM. I have ordered a set of 50/50 shocks for it, but plan on keeping the factory spring. I’ll want a “OEM like” Spring up front to complement it. So maybe going “super soft” on the front will be beneficial here.
Thanks for the input...
Originally thought the nose of the car would be abnormally light weight with the tubular K-member, lack of accessories, plastic intake, and aluminum block 5.3, etc... so the stiff ride was expected. I guess the twin turbo setup balanced it out as 1560lbs is about “normal” for a fox.
125lb rate seems crazy light to me too, but I have the springs handy to try so thought I’d give it a shot and see how it feels. I also run maxed positive caster to help keep the car track straight at speed. That also has an impact on spring rating maxing a lighter spring act more rigid. Though the plates don’t’ allow what I’d call excessive adjustment.
Funny you mention the rear as it’s 100% untouched OEM. I have ordered a set of 50/50 shocks for it, but plan on keeping the factory spring. I’ll want a “OEM like” Spring up front to complement it. So maybe going “super soft” on the front will be beneficial here.
Thanks for the input...
05-09-2018, 02:34 PM
#16
If you're 1560 on the front you are definitely lighter than the average Fox --- depending on options/body style, figure 55%/45% on 3200 lbs. -- 1760 lbs in front. So the cross member/suspension bits/alum block/skinnies (?) have certainly knocked some off the front even if the turbos added some back. Is this car not in your sig? "At speed" = 1/4 mile? If so, forget my blathering about spring rates -- I tend to think autocross/road course, totally different animal than 1/4 mile from a suspension perspective.
05-09-2018, 02:47 PM
#17
No, that’s my RX-7. This is a “budget” street setup in a 93 mustang. OEM wheels lightened a bit. Nothing fancy. China twin turbo kit on JY LS with a small cam. More concerned with streetability than track or handling. This is my cruiser/street drag toy. Kicked out of track for going to fast without a cage already anyway!
https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...-ls-notch.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...-ls-notch.html
05-09-2018, 03:52 PM
#19
TECH Senior Member